Dual Enrollment Frequently Asked Questions

Dual Enrollment Frequently Asked Questions

Dual enrollment is an acceleration mechanism that allows students to pursue an advanced curriculum relevant to their individual postsecondary interests. Each year, more than 60,000 students participate in Florida's dual enrollment program, and the number is growing. According to the U.S. Department of Education, college credit earned prior to high school graduation reduces the average time-to-degree and increases the likelihood of graduation for the students who participate in these programs. There is also evidence that dual enrollment increases academic performance and educational attainment.

As the emphasis on career planning increases, students will be encouraged to select courses that align with their postsecondary goals. As with all acceleration options, students should be advised based on individual needs and carefully monitored to ensure success. School counselors play an important role in communicating accurate information to students and parents, fostering a positive understanding of the merits of dual enrollment and developing collaborative relationships with college advisors and peers.

Dual enrollment is one of a number of acceleration options available that enable students to pursue a rigorous curriculum for high school graduation, as well as earn credit toward a degree or industry certification. The ACC Credit-by-Examination Equivalencies report () lists a number of examination programs in which students may earn college credit for successful completion of an exam. Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) also include coursework for a standard high school diploma. Other included examinations are the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), DSST, and UExcel (Excelsior) in which students complete only the exam for college credit. For students participating in AP, IB, and/or AICE as well as Dual Enrollment, counselors and students should refer to the ACC Credit-by-Examination list to ensure that a student is not repeating college credit coursework through dual enrollment that could be awarded based on exam scores.

Students may also participate in career dual enrollment for courses that will lead to an industry certification. Many industry certifications will articulate to college credit toward a degree. A listing of articulated industry certifications may be found at: .

Students and Parents

1. What is dual enrollment?

Dual enrollment is an acceleration program that allows students in grades 6-12, including home education and private school students and students with disabilities, to take postsecondary coursework and simultaneously earn credit toward a high school diploma, a career certificate, an industry certification or an associate or baccalaureate degree at a Florida public or eligible private postsecondary institution.

2. What is early admission?

Early admission is a form of dual enrollment permitting high school students to enroll in college or career courses on a full-time basis. As with all dual enrollment programs, students earn both high school and college/career credits for courses completed. Career early admissions is a form of career dual enrollment through which eligible secondary students enroll full-time in a career center or a Florida College System institution in postsecondary programs leading to industry certification, as listed in the CAPE

Postsecondary Industry Certification Funding List pursuant to section (s.) 1008.44, Florida Statutes (F.S). Participation in the career early admission program shall be limited to students who have completed a minimum of four (4) semesters of full-time secondary enrollment.

3. How many credits must a student take in the early admission dual enrollment program?

Early admission students must enroll in minimum of 12 college credit hours per semester, but cannot be required to enroll in more than 15 college credit hours per semester.

4. What is career dual enrollment?

Career dual enrollment is an option for secondary students to earn industry certifications adopted pursuant to s. 1008.44, F.S, which count as credits toward a high school diploma. Career dual enrollment is available for secondary students seeking a certificate or degree and industry certification through a career education program or course.

5. Who is eligible to take dual enrollment courses?

Students must meet the following eligibility criteria per Section 1007.271(3), F.S.:

? Be enrolled as a student in a Florida public or nonpublic secondary school (grades 6-12), or in a home education program;

? Have a 3.0 unweighted high school grade point average (GPA) to enroll in college credits, or a 2.0 unweighted high school GPA to enroll in career dual enrollment courses;

? For college credits, achieve a minimum score on a common placement test pursuant to Rule 6A14.064, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.);

? Meet any additional eligibility criteria specified by the postsecondary institution in the Dual Enrollment Articulation Agreement; and

? Not be scheduled to graduate from high school prior to the completion of the dual enrollment course.

All students in grades 6-12 who meet these eligibility requirements and/or additional eligibility requirements as determined in the articulation agreement must be allowed to participate in dual enrollment. Any additional eligibility requirements or limits on dual enrollment participation based on grade levels must be only to ensure college readiness and not to arbitrarily prohibit students who have demonstrated the ability to master advanced courses from participation.

Students must maintain at least a 3.0 unweighted high school GPA and the minimum required postsecondary GPA specified in the Dual Agreement Articulation Agreement for continued eligibility to participate in college credit dual enrollment courses.

6. What are the eligibility requirements for students in home education programs?

Home education students shall have equal access to dual enrollment as public school students. Home education students must present evidence to the postsecondary institution that the home education program is in compliance with s. 1002.41, F.S. It is not the statutory requirement that home education students present a transcript at the time of entry to the dual enrollment program; however, there may be educational benefits to the student for sharing their education background. Each postsecondary institution must enter into a Home Education Articulation Agreement with each student seeking enrollment in a dual enrollment course and the student's parent/guardian.

7. Are prospective college credit dual enrollment students required to take a common placement test such as the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT)?

Yes. Students must still demonstrate readiness for college credit postsecondary instruction in Mathematics or English, pursuant to s. 1008.30(6), F.S., by meeting or exceeding the college ready score(s) established in Rule 6A-10.0315, F.A.C. Public high school students shall have opportunities to test at the high school as described in the Dual Enrollment Articulate Agreement.

For home education students seeking to participate in dual enrollment, the Florida College System institution in the school district's service area for which the home education student is registered should provide the opportunity to test (one administration per subtest) at that institution.

Nonpublic high school students' testing opportunities are at the discretion of the postsecondary institution and may be included in the Dual Enrollment Articulation Agreement.

8. If a student is registered for attendance with a private high school, may they also be considered a home education student?

Please consult with your district to determine the student's enrollment status.

9. What private postsecondary institutions are eligible to offer dual enrollment?

To be eligible to offer dual enrollment the postsecondary institution must be licensed to provide postsecondary education in Florida (or exempt from licensure requirements) and accredited by an organization approved by the US Department of Education (s. 1011.62(1)(i), F.S.). This does not preclude students from taking postsecondary courses at non-eligible private postsecondary institutions; however, these courses will not be considered a part of Florida's dual enrollment program.

10. What if a student does not have the required GPA?

Participation in dual enrollment by students without the required GPA is at the discretion of the postsecondary institution and the school district. Exceptions may be granted on an individual student basis if both educational entities agree and the criteria for exceptions are included in the Dual Enrollment Articulation Agreement.

11. May the school district deny participation in the dual enrollment program to a qualified student?

Yes. A school district may not deny a student access to dual enrollment if the student meets the initial eligibility criteria as stated in the appropriate articulation agreement. However, according to s. 1007.271(3), F.S., "a student may lose the opportunity to participate in a dual enrollment course if the student is disruptive to the learning process such that the progress of other students or the efficient administration of the hours is hindered", regardless of meeting the requirements for continued participation.

12. May a student who does not meet eligibility requirements or students who wish to take ineligible courses participate in dual enrollment, but pay their own tuition and fees?

High school students who have not met dual enrollment eligibility requirements and students who wish to enroll in ineligible courses may be permitted to pay tuition and fees and participate in college coursework

at the discretion of the postsecondary institution. These courses are not considered part of Florida's dual enrollment program.

13. Are students dually-enrolled in career certificate programs leading to industry certificates (non-college credit) with a district career center, district charter technical career center or Florida College System institution required to take a basic skill examination within six weeks of entry into a course?

Yes, unless the program in which the student is enrolled in less than 450 hours in length or the student qualifies for an exemption pursuant to s. 1004.91 F.S.

14. What courses are available for students to take through dual enrollment?

There are hundreds of rigorous courses available to students through dual enrollment. The Dual Enrollment Course-High School Subject Area Equivalency List is updated annually and approved by the Articulation Coordinating Committee (ACC) and the State Board of Education as a tool that identifies dual enrollment courses guaranteed to satisfy specific high school graduation subject area requirements. The current lists are available online by accessing the following links.

? Academic List: ? Career/Technical List:

For career dual enrollment in certificate programs, students are awarded the equivalent high school credit upon completion of the entire dual enrollment course.

Students should be encouraged to complete postsecondary General Education Core requirements prior to participating in elective postsecondary courses. General Education Core requirements may be found at: .

Additional dual enrollment courses that are not included on the Dual Enrollment Course-High Schools Subject Area Equivalency List may be taken. Any dual enrollment course not on the equivalency list must count, at a minimum, as an elective toward high school graduation. However, districts are not prohibited from granting subject area credit for those courses not included on the list, if appropriate. There is no explicit limitation in statute regarding the number of high school elective credits a student may earn through dual enrollment.

*Applied academics for adult education, developmental education, physical education skills and recreation courses are prohibited from inclusion in the dual enrollment program.

15. May a student take online dual enrollment courses?

Yes, a student may take online dual enrollment courses if allowed by the postsecondary institution. There is no distinction in law made between dual enrollment courses taught in a face-to-face format versus those offered online.

16. Are there restrictions on career education dual enrollment courses?

Yes. Career dual enrollment is limited to students who are enrolled in college credit courses leading toward a degree or career and technical certificate courses or programs that each lead to an approved industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List or CAPE Postsecondary Industry

Certification Funding List described in s. 1008.44, F.S.

17. When and where are dual enrollment courses taught?

Pursuant to s. 1007.271, F.S., students who are eligible for dual enrollment shall be permitted to enroll in dual enrollment courses conducted during school hours, after school hours and during the summer term. Dual enrollment courses may be available on the high school campus, at the local career education center, Florida College System institution, state university or eligible nonpublic postsecondary institution.

18. May a student take dual enrollment courses at a postsecondary institution outside of the service area?

Students may be allowed to participate in dual enrollment courses at a postsecondary institution outside of their service area. For additional information the student should contact their counselor or district to discuss what opportunities may be available to them. A Dual Enrollment Articulation Agreement must be in place with the postsecondary institution for students to take dual enrollment courses.

19. May a student take a dual enrollment course at the college or university if that same dual enrollment course is offered on the high school campus?

This is a local decision for inclusion in the Dual Enrollment Articulation Agreement. School districts and postsecondary institutions will determine if dual enrollment courses offered at the high school are thereby ineligible for enrollment at the postsecondary institution.

20. May an early admission student participate in high school activities?

School district policies vary regarding student participation in high school activities. However, students in early admission programs are eligible under the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) to participate in high school athletics.

21. May students with disabilities participate in dual enrollment?

Yes. In the Dual Enrollment Articulation Agreement, a postsecondary institution must include services and resources that are available to students with disabilities who register in a dual enrollment course.

22. What services must be offered to dual enrollment students with disabilities?

In order to receive services, students will be required to disclose their disability and register with the postsecondary institution's office for student disability services. Students in need of disability services will typically need to present current documentation of their disability. Documentation requirements may vary across postsecondary institutions and may also be different than the documents required by middle and high schools. Students should contact the institution's student disability services office for specific documentation requirements.

23. May a student take dual enrollment courses even after completion of high school graduation subject area requirements?

According to s. 1007.271(2), F.S., "if a student is projected to graduate from high school before the scheduled completion date of a postsecondary course, the student may not register for that course through dual enrollment." For this instance, high school graduation is considered the awarding of a high school diploma.

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